Updated 23rd July 2010
Latest:
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July 2010. A change of name? Many local people have told us they refer to Parkstone Park as Parkstone Green, or The Green, and we have now had a request for an official change of name that would appear on new community boards, signs etc. Your local Councillors have no objections. How do you feel about it?
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| May 2010. Victorian fountain purchased and under restoration for the park [more]. |
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March 2010.
We regret that due to wet winter weather and other delays
with the Playbuilder
scheme, we have been unable to progress the Parkstone
project.
As we have a summer programme of events in the park which starts in June, the improvement works have been postponed until after September. We anticipate that contractors will be on site over winter, with completion by spring 2011. |
Responses have been received to the proposals displayed in the park during December 2009. Thank you to all those that completed and returned forms, emailed and telephoned with very constructive comments and suggestions.
We have discussed the findings with our Urban Design and Conservation team and with Ward Councillors, and final design decisions have been made, as a result of which:
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We will no longer be replacing the existing fountain with a contemporary design. 69 of the 70 people that expressed a view on this element of the proposals requested that it be of a traditional design.
Our Urban Design and Conservation team agreed and earlier this year we purchased an original cast iron Victorian fountain (see photo, above right) that is currently being restored by architectural restoration specialists Barr & Grosvenor of Wolverhampton.
The fountain is approximately 2.5m/8ft tall (or 3.2m/10.5ft including it's plinth). It features two bowls (0.9m/3ft and 1.7m/5ft diameter) and is topped by an otter and fish figure.
We understand it was manufactured by McDowall, Steven & Co Ltd at the Milton Ironworks in Glasgow in the late 1880s or early 1890s (Parkstone Park was opened in 1890).
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We will not now be installing traditional park railings, and associated gates, along the frontages with Commercial Road and Station Road. Many people objected to this proposal, some simply on the grounds that they feel it would be a waste of money, others suggesting that they would feel less safe in an enclosed space. Still others were of the opinion that the character of the park is derived from its open appearance, soft edges and multiple points of entry, and that this open character "is a welcome contrast to the urban grain of adjoining buildings and a foil for the visual dominance and severance created by the adjoining road network (signage, surfaces, crossing and barriers)". We listened.
The revised design in brief - we now propose to:
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Create more of a 'welcome' at main park entrances
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Resurface all footpaths through the park
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Replace the existing fountain with one of traditional, Victorian design
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Create an informal 'performance space' with electric power supply that might also be used (for example) for a Christmas tree and carol singing, and as an outdoor exhibition area by local artists
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Add informal seating options (traditional park benches will be retained)
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Create an informal 'play path' for very young children
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Introduce a Pétanque terrain (two pitches) for casual or organised use by all ages - more about the game
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Install a drinking water fountain [read about the results of a 2009 survey of drinking fountains in UK parks]
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Install an interpretation & community notice board
It is likely that some funding will also be available to make improvements to boundary hedge planting.
Funding & contact information
Early in 2008 the project was awarded an initial £50,000 for additional seats and lighting, and to update the electrical supply used for events in the park. That work has been carried out.
